Jar cap dispenser

ABSTRACT

A jar cap dispenser where products such as jars of instant coffee, tea or any other material that is to be dispensed in prescribed amounts. There is provided a member to be screwed onto the threaded neck of a jar or container, and wherein a portion or member is rotatably connected to the first member so that by properly positioning the parts, predetermined amounts of material can be dispensed from the jar or container.

United States Patent 1191 Welch Nov. 25, 1975 JAR CAP DISPENSER [76] lnventor: lrene P. Welch, 2001 Maple Glen Road, Sacramento, Calif. 95825 [22] Filed: Nov. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 414,686

52 US. Cl. 222/370 511 1m.c1. ..G01F 11/24 [58] Field of Search 222/370, 561, 362, 180, 222/181, 185, 532, 568,482, 284,531,555,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Hothersall 222/561 X Beatty 222/370 ux Mask Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Attorney, Agent, or FirmBlair & Brown 57 ABSTRACT A jar cap dispenser where products such as jars of instant coffee, tea or any other material that is to be dispensed in prescribed amounts. There is provided a member to be screwed onto the threaded neck of a jar or container, and wherein a portion or member is rotatably connected to the first member so that by properly positioning the parts, predetermined amounts of material can be dispensed from the jar or container.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 3,921,863

' 'llnl'll lllllnll Illllllllnlli JAR CAP DISPENSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention I I The present invention relates to dispensers ifor jar caps and the like.

2. Summary of the Invention A jar cap dispenser is provided that will dispense quantities of material such as instant coffee, tea, or any other such substance in predetermined or prescribed amounts so that it is not necessary for the user to dip a wet spoon into the jar to obtain the material from the jar or container.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a jar cap dispenser that includes a member that is adapted to be attached to a jar or container whereby the material in the jar can be conveniently dispensed in predetermined amounts in an accurate and convenient manner.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a jar cap dispenser that is rugged in structure and simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the jar cap dispenser and showing the valve in open position relative to the discharge spout;

FIG. 2 is a view generally similar to FIG. 1 but showing the parts in a different or adjusted position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the jar upside down during the initial dispensing stage; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but showing the valve open to permit the material to be dispensed from the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT conventional construction, and the jar 11 shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3 includes the usually externally threaded neck portion 12. The dispenser includes a support member 13 that has an internally threaded side wall or circular portion 14 for threadedly engaging the threaded neck 12. Support member 13 further includes an inwardly bent portion or flange 15 for a purpose to be later described.

The numeral 16 indicates a top wall in the support member 13, and the top wall 16 has an opening 17 therein, FIG. 4. I

As shown in the drawings, there is provided a body member 18 that has a hollow interior portion 19 as well as a tubular passageway or discharge spout 20. The body member 18 is further provided with an annular shoulder 21 that is rotatably received in the flange portion 15. I

The numeral 22 indicates a manually moveable valve or plate that is mounted for movement into and out of opened and closed relation with respect to the discharge spout 20, and lugs 23 and 24 are arranged on the ends of valve 22 for facilitating the manual movement of the valve 22. The numeral 25 indicates spaced apart guide elements on the body member 18 for maintaining the valve22 in its proper aligned position as the valve 22 is moved back and forth.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, suitable indicators 26 and 27 can be arranged on certain of the parts to show when the parts are aligned or positioned in the desired location.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a jar cap dispenser, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, when it is desired to dispense a measured quantity of material, the device and jar can be turned upside down to a position such as that shown in FIG. 5 so that the material from the jar will flow or pass down through the opening 17 and into the chamber of discharge area 20. Then, by moving the parts to a position such as that shown in FIG. 6, the'measured quantity of material in the compartment 20 can be dispensed outwardly as shown by the arrows.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes as desired or required.

The cap of the present invention is especially suitable for use on jars of instant coffee, as well as other products such as non-dairy milk substitutes, and the cap will be useful for accurately measuring and dispensing instant tea or any other substance. When made in appropriate sizes or configurations to fit the manufacturers design of the jar, it will dispense the contents of the jar in the prescribed amount or quantity. A basic objection to the now normal useage of these dry ingredients is that the consumer often dips a wet spoon into the jar, causing lumps and/or hardening of the remaining con tents.

As noted in the drawings, the member 13 is normally screwed onto the top of a container and the uppermost portion 15 is bent inwardly. The numeral 12 in FIGS. 5 and 6 indicates the conventional top of a jar, and the numeral 16 indicates the usual or conventional top of a jar cap. The hole 17 that conforms with the exact diameter of the tube 20 is cut through the top 16. The top portion or body member 18 is moveable and can be twisted around and the member 18 can be made of a I suitable material such as plastic or metal and the major portion of the member 18 is hollow as at 19. The tube 20 may have correct diameter and length to hold a half teaspoon, or teaspoonfull, or whatever amount is required, and the parts may be arranged as shown in the drawings.

The flange portion or shoulder portion 21 is important, as it must revolve within the flange 15 and at the same time be thick enough to scrape and/or level off the ingredients which have entered the tube or passageway 20. If this were not so, as the cap is turned after filling the tube 20, there would be a tendency for the bottom portion of the body member to pick up still further ingredients remaining in the jar, and this would be unsatisfactory.

In use, if the consumer wishes to empty the entire jar, he or she would close the sliding cap 16 over the discharge member 20 by merely pushing on the upstanding lug 23. He would then align the discharge member 20 with the hole 17, and tip the bottle upside down and push back on the slide 16, which permits the entire contents to be poured out. If one wishes a predetermined amount of product dispensed, he or she would first close the slide 16, align the member with the hole 17 and after the member 20 was filled, twist the top so that the tube or member 20 is to one side or away from the hole 17, after which the slide 22 may be pulled back opening the tube 20, and the Contents poured out. The upstanding lugs 23 and 24 not only afford easy movement of the slide 22, but also act as stops when coming in contact with the slide rails or elements 25.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A jar cap dispenser for use with a jar of the type having an externally threaded neck comprising an internally threaded ring adapted to screw onto said externally threaded neck, a circular wall formed on the upper end portion of said ring and having an aperture fonned off center there, an annular flange formed on and extending above said wall and having its upper edge sloping inwardly, a generally cylindrical body on said wall, an annular shoulder extending outwardly of the bottom portion of said body and engaging under the inwardly sloping portion of said flange supporting said body for axial rotation on said wall, an elongate discharge passageway formed off center in and extending completely through said body and adapted to coextensively register with the aperture in said wall at one point of rotation of said body with respect to said wall, a manually movable slide 'cover for the upper end of said passageway and a pair of spaced parallel guide rails secured to said body and overlying opposite side edges of said slide for supporting said slide cover for sliding movement to cover and uncover said passageway whereby said passageway may be filled by inverting said jar with said aperture and said passageway in register and said slide closed, said body may be then rotated to move said passageway out of register with said aperture and said slide cover opened to dispense the contents of said passageway. 

1. A jar cap dispenser for use with a jar of the type having an externally threaded neck comPrising an internally threaded ring adapted to screw onto said externally threaded neck, a circular wall formed on the upper end portion of said ring and having an aperture formed off center there, an annular flange formed on and extending above said wall and having its upper edge sloping inwardly, a generally cylindrical body on said wall, an annular shoulder extending outwardly of the bottom portion of said body and engaging under the inwardly sloping portion of said flange supporting said body for axial rotation on said wall, an elongate discharge passageway formed off center in and extending completely through said body and adapted to coextensively register with the aperture in said wall at one point of rotation of said body with respect to said wall, a manually movable slide cover for the upper end of said passageway and a pair of spaced parallel guide rails secured to said body and overlying opposite side edges of said slide for supporting said slide cover for sliding movement to cover and uncover said passageway whereby said passageway may be filled by inverting said jar with said aperture and said passageway in register and said slide closed, said body may be then rotated to move said passageway out of register with said aperture and said slide cover opened to dispense the contents of said passageway. 